In July 2013, PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases will publish the viewpoint of members of the Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group [1] on the scientific evidence supporting the public-health benefits of preventive chemotherapy [2] in the case of programmes against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), specifically those for the control and elimination of lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistos...

The prevalence of soil-transmitted helminthic infections and health behaviors related to infections in schoolchildren and villagers of a community (4 hamlets) was studied in Hauy Kayeng subdistrict, Thong Pha Phum district, in the north of Kanchanaburi Province. The intestinal helminth infection rate of the schoolchildren was 15.6%. Hookworm infection was the most prominent (9.8%), followed by ...

Objective: Alpinia nigra (Zingiberaceae) is a traditionally used medicinal plant of North-east India against helminthiases. In view of its medicinal property the present study was designed to see the anthelmintic property of its major bioactive compound astragalin, compared to crude extract and praziquantel against Fasciolopsis buski. Methods: Parasites were exposed to 2, 5, 10 and 20 mg/ml con...

BACKGROUND The relationship between helminthiases and allergy is a matter of considerable interest and research. In the tropics, house dust mite exposure, a known risk factor for asthma, is frequently concurrent with helminth infections. It remains to be defined whether infection with the common roundworm Ascaris or its bystander immunological effects influence the prevalence and pathogenesis o...

One of the most important issues related to public health is parasitic diseases. Many diseases are zoonotic, emerging or re-emerging zoonoses, prevalent and difficult to control [1]. Some of these diseases such as leishmaniasis, malaria, Chagas disease and so on are vectorborne causing by pathogens transmitted by arthropods [2-4]. Some others are foodor water-borne so that contaminated food or ...

BACKGROUND Schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis are two high-burden neglected tropical diseases. In highly endemic areas, control efforts emphasize preventive chemotherapy. However, as morbidity, infection, and transmission begin to decrease, more targeted treatment is likely to become more cost-effective, provided that comparatively cheap diagnostic methods with reasonable accura...